KAMPALA. UCU Lady Canons wore eye-catching sparkling white body-hugging dresses. One of them fittingly got one of the two most prestigious awards – the 2015 playoffs’ Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Kenyan ‘big man’ Vilma Achieng held off country mate and former teammate Purity Odhiambo to her first MVP award at the annual Fuba awards dinner on Saturday night at the Imperial Royale Hotel.
Her teammates roared “she is a beast, she is a beast,” even if she, like all of them, looked more of an angel.
The third nominee Judith Nansobya found consolation in the top scorer’s gong. Together, they strolled to the podium to lift their trophy for their 4-3 final series result against KCCA Leopards.
Achieng got as loud a cheer as the men’s playoffs’ MVP – City Oilers’ Kami Kabange – whose second award in three years wasn’t a shock at all to crown the team’s three-peat.
Kabange averaged 16 points and eight rebounds in the finals’ 4-3 win over UCU Canons. His rivals Jimmy Enabu and Landry Ndikumana, who didn’t attend, knew their “leader’ deserved the accolade.
Does the recognition still bring the same satisfaction to him?
“It does mean a lot. When you practice hard and then get this, you feel appreciated,” Kabange, who has as many MVP plaques as Ben Komakech, told Daily Monitor.
“Make no mistake it’s not easy to win three titles and you saw how hard it was to be overcome UCU. They matched us every step of the way.”
Chants for Wundi
That co-emcees Allan Musoke and Barbara Okot read out Kabange to a rather non-stunned audience said a lot about how much the winner is regarded.
The same crowd rose to its feet and clapped hard in near-unanimous approval of UCU Steven Wundi being commended for most the most outstanding performance.
The shooting gem’s gun that almost brought Oilers to their knees shot down the champions’ three-peat, JKL Lady Dolphins promotion to the top tier in one season and Maureen Amoding’s 35 against UCU.
Like all awards, controversy was flying in the air as the inaugural “Dream Team” for the best five was botched with none of the regular season MVPs – Brian Namake (men) and Joy Chemutai (women).
Namake and Chemutai were the best overall but not the best in their positions! Illogical!! Despite exiting the playoffs at the first hurdle, Steven Mwesigye somehow had the most rebounds.
The count was Duxx (Our Saviour) 267 Ivan Lumanyika (UCU) 266. Were the playoffs totally ignored in this category just like winning was shelved for coaches?
Best coach went to Timothy Odeke despite not winning anything ahead of winners like Brian Wathum (Dolpins) Nicholas Natuhereza (UCU) and Mandy Jurruni (Oilers).
The latter has four titles in as many years with one ‘best coach’ accolade at an event that left the glass seemingly both half full and empty.
Several sponsors attended as well as sports commissioner Omara Apita, the chief guest, who promised funding.
2015 – Kami Kabange (City Oilers)
2014 – Jimmy Enabu (City Oilers)
2013 – Kami Kabange (City Oilers)
2012 – Norman Blick (Warriors)
2011 – Isaac Afidra (Power)
2015 – Vilma Achieng (UCU Lady Canons)
2014 – Claire Lamunnu (KCCA Leopards)
2013 – Peace Proscovia (UCU Lady Canons)
2012 – Flavia Oketcho (KCCA Leopards)
2011 – Purity Odhiambo (UCU Lady Canons)
editorial@ug.nationmedia.com
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